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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

7 Myths about drinking water - busted!

Myth # 1: Drinking water between meals is bad for digestion.

This is one line which we keep on hearing from everyone, also passed down from generation to generation. However, there is no scientific proof to indicate that it will affect the digestive process. Probably it will just fill up your stomach and reduce your appetite for lunch or dinner. But besides that everyone should go ahead and enjoy a glass of water with every meal.

Myth # 2: Drinking 8 glasses of water in a day is good for health.

Drinking 8 glasses of water in a day is the most popular myth these days. Scientists say that there is no clear correlation between good health and sipping water all the day. Doctors also recommend drinking water when one feels thirsty. One should drink more water in summers because we all tend to sweat more in hot and humid weather. Common sense should prevail.

Myth # 3: Drink water, and you can never have too much of a good thing!

Recent studies says that drinking too much of water can in fact be harmful. Excessive water is dangerous in a way that it can lower the salt concentration in the body. Drinking more water than required can cause water intoxication, where dilution of blood sodium takes place because our kidneys are over worked. And unable to excrete the excess water as urine.

Myth # 4: Water cleans out the body's toxins.

Common myth says that drinking a lot of water will clear out toxins from our body, which is absolutely wrong! The truth is that the toxins in our body are filtered out by kidneys. Drinking more water than required will actually reduce the kidney's ability to function as a filter.

Myth # 5: Drink water for healthy skin.

It is a popular belief that since our body's composition is 60% water, drinking more water will give you a glowing skin. However, there is little evidence to support this saying. Water does help keeping skin hydrated but healthy and glowing skin is result of many things which includes good diet, weather, pollution and genetic factors.

Myth # 6: Drinking water can help in weight loss.

I have heard many people saying that "drink more water and you'll shed those extra pounds like magic". This is not true, as we have already discussed earlier that drinking more water will at most fill in your stomach and reduce your food intake. But water is far from a miracle drug to lose weight.

Myth # 7: Drink as much water as you can during a workout.

It is commonly believed that during workouts there are more chances of dehydration, so common myth says that you need to drink more water during exercise. But dehydration sets in only when you lose 2% of body weight. Now you can calculate yourself and will know it is unlikely a normal workout requires increased water intake. Instead, ensure that you are well hydrated during the workouts and throughout the day, without over doing it. Drink water if you feel thirsty during workouts.